Time is ticking away on the Jarome Iginla era in Calgary, as the most popular player in franchise history has yet to decide whether he wants to remain with the Flames.

Iginla’s agent, Don Meehan, has given the Calgary Sun an ominous update on the situation between the two sides, saying the Flames captain is “not currently in negotiations” with the NHL club he’s played with the last 18 years.

Don’t be surprised if the Pittsburgh Penguins get Sidney Crosby a little help.

While the Penguins’ captain is doing a good job setting a torrid scoring pace this season, Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero is expected to go shopping for another winger and possibly a defenceman before the April 3 trade deadline.

Kiprusoff, who’s currently nearing a return from a knee injury suffered Feb. 5, has one more season on his contract after this year before becoming an unrestricted free agent. The 36-year-old netminder no longer has a no-trade clause, and a trade could really kick start a rebuild for the floundering team, which is awfully close to 30th even with him in the fold.

THIS N’ THAT: The talk has increased in the last few days as the schedule hits the halfway point and teams are starting to get desperate to make moves. Sources say the Rangers, Flames and Philadelphia Flyers are among those making phone calls. “Teams are thinking they’ve got to do something now if they’re going to stand a chance,” said a league executive Friday … The Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Senators are among several teams looking for a defenceman before the April 3 deadline … The Penguins won’t have C Evgeni Malkin back from a concussion Saturday vs. the Montreal Canadiens Saturday at the Bell Centre, but he is making progress. Many GMs think Pittsburgh’s Ray Shero will deal for Calgary’s Jarome Iginla.

The dream candidate on Boston’s list because he has played with a Bruins-style mentality throughout his entire career. The belief is that a winning situation could spark the 35-year-old’s game. He’s got power-forward size, a mean streak that will fit in well with the Black and Gold and enough offensive ability to post 32 goals and 67 points last season. There’s little doubt that he’s slowed down in the morass that is the Calgary Flames, and he’s got only three goals along with a minus-3 rating in 18 games.